Chinooks and Mallards Tied 3-3 after 16 Innings: Play is Suspended

The Lakeshore Chinooks came to Kapco Park on Saturday night to take on the Madison Mallards for the second game of a three game series. After a big first game from Mike Hollenbeck (Illinois State), who earned himself Northwoods Player of the Night on Friday and John Norwood (Vanderbilt) who launched a grand slam over the left field wall, the second game was a pitching duel that the Mallards came back in the top of the 9^th inning hitting a two-run home run with two outs to force 16 innings and a suspended game.

The Chinooks struck first in the bottom of the 4^th inning on a Ryan Krill (MSU) home run to right field. That home run was Krill’s fourth home run of the season leading the Chinooks and making the score 1-0.

Cody Bobbit (Wichita State) started the hitting off in the bottom of the 6^th with a single up the middle. After an out, Sawyer Polen (Kent State) smacked a double to put runners on second and third looking to score. With two outs in the inning, Krill was intentionally walked bringing up Brant Valach (Eastern Illinois) who knocked in two more Chinook runs on a single making the lead 3-0 after the 6^th inning.

The Mallards answered in the top of the 7^th inning starting with a lead-off double. After a walk and two outs, LaPrise of the Mallards knocked in a run with an RBI single to right field cutting the Chinooks lead to 3-1.

In the top of the 9^th with two outs, the Mallards were down to their final out of the game. Fitzgerald of the Mallards crushed the game tying two-run home run to take us to the bottom of the 9^th inning.

The Chinooks were hoping to take the fans at Kapco Park home happy. After two outs in the inning, Mikel Mucha (Wichita State) and Aaron Machbitz (South Dakota State) knocked back-to-back base hits putting runners on the corners, but could not bring home the winning run sending the game into extra innings.

After a scoreless 10^th inning, Ryan Krill doubled with one out in the bottom of the 11^th to put the Chinooks in scoring position. Pinch runner Harrison Bader (Florida) was advanced over by Valach but yet could not bring home the winning run which was only 90 feet away.

The Mallards loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the 12^th inning looking to take a commanding lead but Dan Sayles (Sacramento City) forced a ground ball to end the inning keeping the score 3-3.

With one out in the bottom of the 12^th inning Mike Hollenbeck continued his hot streak with a one out single. Chris Manning launched a double what looked to end the game but bounced over the wall for a ground rule double putting runner on second and third with two outs. After an intentional walk to load the bases, once again the Chinooks could not bring home the magic run to end the game.

With two outs in the top of the 13^th inning, the Mallards once again loaded the bases looking to take a lead going into the bottom half. With a full count, Sayles forced another ground out to end the inning and keep the game knotted at 3.

After zeros filled up the scoreboard, the 16^th inning was the final inning of the night regardless of what happens. The city of Mequon states an inning cannot start after 11:00 o’clock. The Mallards threatened putting runners on the corners and two outs. Mike Vinson (Florida) came through when it mattered most getting out of the jam and bringing the Chinooks up for the final half inning of the night.

Machbitz led off the bottom of the 16^th with a walk and advanced to second base after a sacrifice bunt by Hollenbeck. With pinch runner Ryan Solberg (UWM) at third base, the Chinooks could not bring home the run and the game has been suspended.

Starter Joe Greenfield (Eastern Illinois) had arguably his best start of the season going six solid innings giving up no runs on two hits with two strike outs. Greenfield took command of the game from the start giving the Chinooks another great outing on the mound.

The Chinooks (16-8) head back to Madison Sunday, June 23^rd to finish the three game series. The Chinooks will return to Kapco Park on Saturday, June 29^th to take on the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Fans in attendance can enjoy Mel’s Pig Roast Night along with a great Chinooks game!